Gage-head.



J. W. BEARD.

GAGE HEAD APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 15, 1908 Tlrz lwwcmtoz 4 UNITED sTA s PATENT oEEIoE.

JOHN WALTER BEARD, OF MISSOULA, MONEAEPIA.

GAGEJ-IE AD.

Application filed June 15,

To all whom it may concern:

Belt known that I, JOHN WALTER BEARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Missoula, in the county of Missoula, State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Gage-Heads; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to gages or templets adapted to be used in connection with a measuring'instrument such as an ordinary carpenters rule, and has for one of its objects to guide the rule while being drawn over the work to be scribed, and to not only hold the rule in position, but also to protect the finger of the operator. I

Carpenters frgquently employ the ordinary folding rule as a gage implement by grasping the rule between the index finger and thumb of the left hand and placing the outer surface of the index linger, between the first and second joints, against the work to be gaged, and then drawing over its surface with the pencil held against the outer end of the rule, the

index linger being held opposite the desired graduation, but this action of course pro duces an unpleasant friction against the iare finger of the operator and frequently results in slivers entering the-finger, and other injury being imparted thereto, and the prin cipal object of the present invention. is to enable the carpenter to hold the rule in precisely the same positionrelative to the work to be gaged, while at the same time the finger is protected from abrasion, and a more pen fectgage produced.

With these andother objects in view the invention confityw in a plate having a longi tudinal slot o 'ienelt; one end to receive the rule and with a latfltttl flange to bear over the corner of the work tilt he gaged, and with a linger encompassing band projecting from the rear face of the plate, the flanged face of the plate adapted to bear against the edge oftho ork to be gaged.

.'lhe invention further consists in certain novel features of construction hereafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claim, and in the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, liigure 1 is a )OISPUCtlVG view of the improved device v. ith a portion of a carpenters rule arranged therein. Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1909.

1908. Serial No. 438,608.

I 2 is a pers ective view of the improved device detac ed and viewed from the side shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank from which the improved device is bent up. I

The improved device comprises a plate 1 0 of metal of suitable thickness, and preferably of brass, but which may be of steel or other 1 metal if preferred and plated or otherwise protected or ornamented. The plate is preferably ressed from asingle piece. and initially in the 'orm shown in Fig. 3 with a tongue 11 projecting from one side and an L-shaped cleft 12 longitudinally of the plate near one edge, the cleft releasing a portion of the plate which is bent at right angles to the body thereof leaving an open slot 13 and a lateral l 1 l l l i l l into tubular form to receive the index finger of the hand of the operator, as shown at 15. The slot 13 is designed to receive a carpenters rule, indicated at 16. With a device thus constructed the operation is as follows:-The rule 16 is disposedin the slot 13 and the operator places the index finger of his left hand in the socket 11, and the thumb of the left hand upon top of the rule to 'LOld the latter rigidly in osition upon the flange 14-. The plate is t on disposed against the work upon whic the gage mark 1 is to be scribed, represented at 17, with the flange 1 1 resting over the top of the work. The rule is then adjusted until the graduation thereon, which indicates the distance which the scribed line is to be placed from the edge of the work, is op osite the inner face of the plate 10, which wi 1 bring the selected graduation exactly opposite the edge of the work,

pics when used in the ordinary n'ianner as a gage, as above described.

The tongue 14 performs two important functions, first as a guard to the work to prevent abrasion by the guard, and second as a support for the implement to prevent friction between the gage or rule and the work.

The rule which is usually employed as a gage implement being provided with numerous fine lines or graduations upon both faces and having a varnislunl surface would be seriously damaged if drawn over the work to be gaged and in contact therewith, but with the improved device the gage implelnentis held above the work to be aged by the tongue 14 and thus protected, and ihe fricflange 14, while the tongue 11 is bent up lOf) tion confined entirely between the metal slide member and the Work.

The scribing implement, which is usually a pencil, is then placed against the outer end of the rule and the plate With the rule held thereon is moved along the Work 17 and the pencil or other scribingimplernent caused to move the convenience of its usefor this purpose.

What is elaimed, is

An implement of the class described comprising a bearing dplate having an open slotnear one edge an with a sup orting flange projecting laterally from the ottom of the with the rule and thus produce the required I slot, and With a finger socket extending from scribed line. Y I the opposite side of the plate, said slot adapt- The device is very simple in construction, ed to receive a gage implement and said can be manufactured at small expense, and flame adapted adapted to rules of various thicknesses, and im ement and the work being gaged. operates satisfactorily for the purposes del ntestimony whereof, I affix my signature, scribed.I l 1 I! in presence of two Witnesses.

It Wi l be obvious t :at any i111 ement 1 which Will enter the slot 13, maybe eiiiployed JOHN 'YWALTER BEARD instead of the rule, but generally the rule I Witnesses:

Will be employed as above described, as it is CHAS. DAWSON, the most convenient implement at hand, and t JOEL A. Moss.

to extend between the gage having thegraduations, materially increases 

